Index IntroductionEnergy Drink Sales and Consumption TrendsHidden Dangers in Energy DrinksDangers of Energy Drink MarketingSolutions to the Energy Drink EpidemicConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionTry to visualize drinking four to five Monster or Red Bull a day to continue your daily routine and function normally. This is what my sister does every day. Since entering the Marine Corps in 2014, these powerful caffeine-rich drinks have transformed into an irresistible drug. To understand better, I asked her why. For many like her in the military, working night shifts, not getting enough sleep, doing homework, or simply not having enough time to be a normal being is why energy drinks are preferred. Energy drinks equate to a quick, easy and quick caffeine fix to continue your necessary daily routine. My sister isn't the only person who has fallen victim to the addiction and dangers of energy drinks. Using fancy labels, colorings and big words to grab consumers' attention, manufacturers have hooked younger generations on these potent caffeine fixes. Over the years, sales of energy drinks have skyrocketed and companies have advertised this highly potent, drug-like drink to children, causing a nationwide health scare. This is why energy drinks should be banned. Energy drinks are much more dangerous than many believed and cause damage that cannot be seen by the normal eye. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Energy Drink Sales and Consumption Trends Sales and statistics show that the overall consumption of energy drinks has increased in recent years. According to Statista, the popularity of these drinks has given a significant boost to sales, so much so that “sales of energy drinks in 2015 amounted to 2.8 billion US dollars and three years later, at the end of 2018, they reached 3.14 billion US dollars”. and later stated that "Calculated during calendar 2017 sales, energy drinks made up one-third or 33% of bottled beverage sales in America where water and other options were available." (Conway, 2019). What helps and compounds the problem with these drinks is the easy access, cost, and quick effectiveness of the ingredients. In recent years, from 2015 to 2018, the industry increased its sales by approximately 340 million. This is a serious issue that is not taken to heart. Analyzing that these drinks represented 30% of the drinks sold means that one in three consumers, purchasing any drink available to them, opts for the red bull or the monster simply because of the addiction and long-lasting effects it has. The ingredients are to blame when it comes to the addiction and craze behind energy drinks, this combined with other underlying marketing strategies equates to high consumption and sales. Hidden Dangers in Energy Drinks When researching the ingredients, avoiding being influenced by the craze behind energy drinks and catchy labels as well as the claims made by the manufacturers, these drinks are causing more harm than many think. In general, an energy drink containing around 25-30 grams of sugar with double caffeine will have the same effects as a coffee with little or no sugar and other additives. A regular black coffee according to the Mayo Clinic has "no excess fat when drunk black and fewer calories thanstore-bought versions" (Zeratsky, 2017). Drinking an energy drink over good old coffee gives you an excess of 25 grams of sugar, preservatives and unnecessary caffeine in double the amounts, resulting in possible health risks. Even caffeine, as stated in the article, it is not regulated by the FDA, so manufacturers control the amount mixed in each can. According to Sutter Health, due to manufacturers mislabeling consumers, “one 16-ounce can of energy drink contains a rough estimate. ranging from less than 250 milligrams of caffeine to a high amount of 280 milligrams of caffeine; a size greater than 16 ounces can further exceed that amount by up to 500 milligrams of excess caffeine... Compare these high numbers to powerful caffeine with a 12-ounce can of soda containing a justifiable amount less than 35 milligrams” (Lai MD, 2019). This is said to be true and/or applicable to most energy drinks and their questionable ingredients. The sugar/caffeine ratio is not the only important issue related to energy and should be considered one of the least important ones that is now turning into advertising aimed at children. Dangers of Energy Beverage Marketing The problem is specific marketing aimed at children and the dangers that come with it. The effects of marketing to such impressionable audiences translate into, as stated by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, "nearly a third of adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 drink them regularly." (Energy Drinks, 2019) 33% of teens drinking energy drinks only increases with age. Even more than teenagers, men in their 20s drink them the most. The danger is that children are addicted to a substance formulated to be addictive from a young impressionable age. Caffeine for children is dangerous, and at any high dosage, it should be of concern. The way caffeine works is that "the intense sweetness of energy drinks raises blood sugar levels, triggering the pancreas to produce insulin... blood pressure and heart rate will increase." (The Irish Examiner, 2018). Children find increased heart rate and increased blood pressure more than normal to be normal and energizing and exhilarating to experience, so the addiction has begun. Since this is how addictive and fast-acting caffeine is, all sleep-deprived children and working adults are making the unpleasant switch from harmless coffee to energy drinks to get their own opinions and experience the effectiveness of the drinks energy. In the long term health wise there are other better options on the markets. Solutions to the Energy Drink Epidemic The first solution to the problem of energy drinks being unhealthy and dangerous is to use the substitution method. Instead of energy drinks, find healthy, more natural ingredients using alternatives. According to Food Business News, “soup-based drinks like V8 and Synapse use more natural, non-harmful ingredients to replace the caffeine in energy drinks.” (Berry, 2018). This is a relatively simple replacement because the main marketing target of these new products is college students on a budget looking for fast energy. This is also a healthier option because it replaces sugar with natural agave and a low-glycemic sweetener created to boost energy levels and keep your heart rate normal. There are many other benefits to drinking this alternative over traditional energy drinks, as well as bringing some